Display cabinet



Dec. 17, 1929. R. ORTHWINE 1,739,730

' DISPLAY CABINET Filed March 3. 192-7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

' x ATTORNEY,

Dec. 17, 1929. o w I 1,739,730

DISPLAY CABINET Filed March 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I 2 g fl i 4TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH ORTHWINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DISPLAY CABINET Application filed March 3,

My invention relates to display cabinets which are particularly adapted for holding stocks of various small articles, suitable for convenient dispensing and for ready maintenance of the stock in an orderly condition.

Modern merchandising methods require the rapid dispensing of large quantities of small items, such as toilet articles, candies, small hardware items, and other such like materials, with a minimum expenditure of time and labor on the part of the salesman. They further require, in order to promote a satisfactory sale, that the articles sold be kept in good order, and that the stock from which the goods are sold be kept together in a convenient receptacle or bin. These requirements impose severe structural limitations upon a dispensing cabinet, especially in View of the fact that the construction of the cabinet must be such that the stock is readily kept in order by the salesman, with a minimum amount of labor, attention and time, so that it is always in goodorder for the inspection of customers. It is of course well known that a disorderly, ill-kept, stock repels the purchaser, while an orderly, well-kept, stock, in full bins is very attractive to the buyer, especially in the case of small lowpriced articles, such as package candies, etc.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive dispensing stand, which is'adapted to the simultaneous display and dispensing of a variety of articles, which is adapted to ready adjustment of the size of the bins, accord.- ing to the size of the articles, and which is adapted to the ready insertion of fillers, to compensate for the volume of sold stock, so that the bin may appear nearly level full at all times, as long as there is any stock in it. My device is further readily adapted to construction in light, inexpensive sheet metal form, is adapted to use on a counter of the usual type, and is equally well adapted to use on a counter accessible to the purchaserv from both sides, is readily adapted to conveniently cleaning, and is easily and inexpensively made.

Other objects and structural details of my invention will be apparent from the following 1927. serial No. 172,269.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment;

. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a filler member of the same embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section of the same embodiment;

Fig. 7 is aview in transverse section of the alternative embodiment; I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a corner construction of thesame embodiment, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of a plurality of the devices of my invention with an added top member.

The preferred embodiment of my invention, shown in the drawings, comprises a pair of sheet metal side members 1 and 2, having stepped upper edges. A front cross member?) is'provided and attached to the front edges of the side members 1 and 2. Additional cross members 4, 5 and 6 are provided and attached to the side members at the points marked out by the fronts of the successive stepped portions as indicated. A top member 7 may also be provided if de sired, attached to the uppermost edges of the last step of the side members 1 and 2. This member is desirably a part of the device of my invention but may under some conditions be dispensed with. The transverse members 3, 4, 5 and 6 are rovided with each, facing inward, the remaining'members being provided with superposed reversely facing grooves as indicated. Horizontal bottom members 9, 10 and 11 are provided, positioned between the vertical transverse members 3, 4, 5 and.6. The members 9, 10 and 11 are desirably perforated and form the bottoms of compartments defined by the vertical transverse members, and the side members. The various members are preferably formed formed grooves 8, the'first an last members 3 and 6, being provided with a single groove of sheet metal by the usual sheet metal working methods and are desirably finished in the usual way with rolled rims, which may .ened together by any convenient means which or may not be reinforced by a stiffening Wire in the fashion well known to sheet metal workers. The various members may be fastmember proper. The] tab members .14are adapted to cooperate with the grooves 8 and for this purpose are provided with formed projections on the outer sides which are adapted to enter the grooves to maintain the partition upright and.squarely transverse of the bin. They are however readily removable, and in order to facilitate the removal, one edge may be relieved by trimming away a portion of the metal so that the partition. may be tilted in its place to spring the'tab members 14 out of engagement with the grooves 8. These partition members thus conveniently divide the successive stepped compartments in smaller portions or bins and they are'conveniently adjusted by slid-e, ing thetabs 14 in the grooves 8'to produce a bin of proper size to receive conveniently the stock to be displayed. a g

The stock may then be placed within the bins which are adjustable according to the size of the units comprising the stock. As the stock is sold and reduced in quantity, it may be found that the height to which the bin is filled is insuflicient to make a. goodlooking display. For the purposeof improving the appearance of the display, I further provide filler members 15 as shown in F ig. 5. These consist of a flat memberhaving bent-down portions 16. The fiat portion is formed of the same width as the Width of the bins and conveniently extends from front to back, to make a comfortable, easy fit. A plurality of filler members are conveniently provided having the bent-down portions 16 of difl'erent lengths so that the filler which forms a subfloor in the compartment, is adapted to position the'subfloor at different heights according to the filler chosen. In this way, the capacity of the bin may be adjusted according to the quantity of stock at hand, as well as adjusted by the positioning of the partition 12 to fit the size of either of the individual members of the stock or the. total quantity of stock.

In the previously described embodiment theengaglng means 8 is disclosed as a curved channel with the concave side facing the bin to an undesirable injury of the surface of the cabinet. To avoid this difiiculty the con- 1 that theconvex side faces inwardly into the which contains the partition cooperating therewith. In someinstan'ces this constructionis not wholly satisfactory because of the fact that in the insertion of the partition; the

projections upon the tabs 14 scrape over the finished surface of thecompartment interior,

' before they Snap into the grooves 8. In the event that the partitions are frequently re-. I

moved and replaced, this may ultimately lead struction disclosed in Figs-'4 and 7 may be substituted. In this-construction the curvature of the locking iheans 8 is reversed, so

compartment. A different type of partition of the convex engaging means 8, and abrad-,.

"12* may then be constructed, having tabs 14 ing friction is accordingly applied y on the ridge line. This provides means for effecting a marked protection to the paint and finish upon the interiorof the-cabinet. I I I The construction is shown in vertical section in Fig. 7 which indicates clearly the type of construction utilized. The construction of Fig. 4 further shows a modification which; is applicable to either ness of.metal,.12, instead 'oftwo thicknesses type ofipartition. "In this modification the partition member is made of a single 'thickof; metal, folded together-as shown at 12 in I proper, 12, by bending overand forming in it the proper depression, the other'ta'b, 14', is formed ofxa small portion of'sheet metal, bent to angle form with the proper depression formed as in the tab 14'. The tab 14? is then attached by any convenient means, such, for

instance, as spot welding, The' ends of the partition may be trimmed toa length short compartment, in order to facilitate removal in a fashion similar to that described in connectionwith the partition of Fig. 3, and the lower corners of the partition may be relieved to enable them to pass the convexridge 8.

The top member 7 isconvenient as a place for putting advertising matter or additional stock. It may be made fiat as shown in Fig.

'Fig..3; Oneof the-tabs, .14 at each end, is I formed-of metal .integralwith the partition fofthe -full dimension of the width of the.

1 1 or it may be made at an angle as shown in of maintaining the cleanliness of the bins,

cated and downward to form a plate 18 and upward to produce a channel 19, adapted to receive the cards. Alternatively, a separate card-receiving member may be provided, as at 20, consisting of a flat portion with bentover edges thus forming channels 21 and 22. This may then be attached in any desired way to the main member.

A back member 23 may be provided as shown in Fig. 6 although it is not an essential part of the embodiment of my invention. The back member 23 may be made solid to prevent'ac'cess of vermin to the inside of the container, or it may be equipped with doors or openings to leave the interior available, under which conditions the surplus stock of filler members 15 may be stored therein and also a surplus of partition members 12 at such times as these are not in use. Or alternatively, the space may be used for the storage of extra stock to be later added to the contents of the bins for display and sale.

Another important feature of my invention is the construction of the bottoms of the respective bins. 'Itiswell known that under usual merchandising conditions more or less extraneous matter collects in the compartments used for containing the dispensable goods. In all previous types of cabinets, one of the most serious difficulties in the use of a single large cabinet with a plurality of compartments has been the difiiculty ofmaintaining adequate cleanliness, since, unless the device could be turned upside down, it was extremely difficult to remove the dust and rubbish which tends to collect in the bottom. The device of my invention avoids this difficulty by a simple and convenient con-. It is of course essential that a struction. cabinet device of this type be amply stout, strong and solid. To meet these requirements, it is essential that the bottom of the bins be made of heavy metal. This however addsundesirably to the weight of the construction. I have accordingly modified the bottoms in a way which accomplishes a twofold purpose. I provide a plurality of perforations, making the perforations of such a size that they will not tend to let the stock drop through, but sufficiently large and numerous .to effect. a substantial lightening of the weight of the device. The openings thus provided further allow a convenient method since upon removalof the stock, any content of dust,- dirt or rubbish, .is easily brushed through the openings and collected, as on a paper inserted below, for removal and disposal. This expedient accomplishes by simple means two very desirable results. The details of this construction are shown to better advantage in Fig. 6.

The device of my invention is gonveniently usable in the case of counters of the type I which provide access for a customer to one side anda clerk to the other side, in which case the front edge of the device may desirably be substantially flush with the front.

other uses, two of the devices of my invention may desirably be positioned upon a broad counter, with their backs together, thereby allowing access both of customer and salesman from the front. In this embodiment, indicated in Fig. 9, I may desirably provide uprights 24 and cross members 25, upon which may be carried advertising matter, placards, price labels, or other material, or from which may be hung additional stock, etc.

By the device of my invention, I have produced a simple, convenient, inexpensive dispensing container, having a plurality of bins adjustable in size according to the dimensions, and the total volume of stock and adapted to the ready insertion therein, of filler members adapted to take the place of sold stock. My invention further provides space for the storage of unused parts and of excess stock. It further is readily cleaned and kept in good order and is well adapted to the varying requirements of the dispensing of goods.

While I have shown but a single embodi- .ment of the device of my invention in the ac- 1. In a display cabinet, a plurality ofcompartments, the rear wall of one compartment extending above the side and front walls thereof,.and constituting the front wall of' another compartment, said rear wall being of'metal bent or folded upon itself to form integral card holding means in rear of and abovethe front compartment.

2. In a display cabinet, a plurality of compartments the rear wall of a compartment extending above the front and side walls there- .of and constituting the front wall of the next succeeding compartment, said rear wall being of metal bent to form areinforcement at the upper edge, extending vertically downward along the front face of the wall for a substantial distance and reversely bent to form a supporting groove.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 

